Walmart...again

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01-25-2011, 09:53 AM

#11

chairjogger

Super Member

Join Date: May 2008

Location: My favorite place in the world is Lake Erie Region USA

Posts: 2,743

The light bulb of answers !!
I had always assumed it was to make more room for electronics. higher yeild for space. Never, thought to be a party area, but makes perfect sense ! no person has to man the party store!
I am so sad.

01-25-2011, 10:06 AM

#12

Lormito

Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Posts: 88

Ha! My walmart still has a small fabric dept. But, there
is NEVER a clerk there. Why? My friend is the manager and she is spending most of her time in the "party" and "stationary" depts. which she was forced to take over. Thankfully, my $1.99 store opened, so I seldom shop at Walmart anymore.

01-25-2011, 10:47 AM

#13

plainjane

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Arkansas

Posts: 1,705

We can only hope that other LQS will pop up since Wal-mart can't supply quality AND less expensive enough to corner the market. Can't stand Wal-Mart-probably because they took away all of the wonderful mom and pop stores we loved.

Wal-mart's desire to controll all shopping with their super stores has back-fired. The Dollar General stores (no fabric or oil changes:) ) are exactly what smaller communities need and are getting. Diet Coke is $1.25 (even less when on sale!) at Dollar General. Wal-mart price $1.68 and higher! Always the low price-not hardly. We shopped Dollar General for an "in need" family-5 lb flour, 5 lb sugar, dry beans, rice, and lots other misc. With a $25 purchase you get $5 off - so, a nice pantry restock for $20. NOT BAD! AND it is LOCAL. They have bread, milk, eggs, CHIPS, cleaning etc., the basics you will probably need, enough to keep you from having to drive 20 mile round trip.

01-25-2011, 10:51 AM

#14

cathyvv

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Myrtle Beach, SC

Posts: 8,095

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvspaper

And it costs more than just the employee's salary. The cost of an employee is often 20-30% more just because of taxes and insurance that the employer must provide (payroll and workers compensation). So even a minimum wage employee will cost close to $10 per hour.

And service areas generally require more specialized training. You don't want the fabric employee to mis-cut too much fabric or over-cut, etc. You don't want the paint employee to mis-mix the paint, etc.

Unless those departments are making enough to support those costs, then it is a good business move by Walmart. Not one that I like, but I do understand from a purely business standpoint.

20 - 30 years ago we were able to buy pre-mixed paint! We could also get 'custom' mixed paint. So everything that's old is new again...,

01-25-2011, 01:15 PM

#15

amma

Power Poster

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: Out searching for some sunshine :-)

Posts: 58,856

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panther Creek Quilting

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltlonger

But they should of thought of that before they put our local fabric shops out of business now where do we go???

A very good point! But I do think that as Walmart discontinues their fabrics, that those local shops will pop back up and I like the thought of spending locally more than spending at Walmart!

I wish this was true, but I think online shops will continually grow. Less over head and better prices, and with this economy as much as we would LOVE to support our LQS it isn't feasible for many of us :(

01-25-2011, 01:17 PM

#16

Dollysquiltingmom

Super Member

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: North, Ms.

Posts: 1,176

Since Sam died the only thing they think of is the $$$$$.

01-25-2011, 08:21 PM

#17

Sadiemae

Power Poster

Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Idaho

Posts: 11,375

Wal-Mart is like any other store. You have to know the price of the products you are buying. I find that I can shop at my local grocery store and spend less money than if I drove the 10 miles to Wal-Mart. Just have to watch the ads, so I longer go to Wal-Mart.

01-25-2011, 08:47 PM

#18

jaciqltznok

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2009

Location: Enid, OK

Posts: 8,273

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raggiemom

I never see anyone actually buying stuff from the party section!

I was going to say the same thing...it is a DUD...no sales/action over there..they can buy all the same stuff at hobby lobby for 50% or at least 40% with a coupon!

02-01-2011, 08:00 PM

#19

marknfran

Senior Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Mead, WA

Posts: 598

Quote:

Originally Posted by granky

I was told yesterday by one of the clerks at our Walmart that the Fabric Department is going to be replaced by a ‘party’ section. This is not news to most of us since we have witnessed this happening in other stores. The question is…why? I’m thinking there is only one reason. Instead of looking at how much income can be generated with the fabric, they are only looking at how much can be saved by not having a department that has to have real live people in it. Apparently Walmart wants only stockers and check-out personnel, and that’s too bad. The company goes out of it’s way to make the customers feel that they are important when they really aren’t. What is important is the ‘bottom line’, period.

I just came from our Walmart superstore. They had a large selection of almost 50% off fabric. The gal told me they have a lot of new fabrics coming in and have to make room for them. I found about ten fabrics I just could not live without and bought 3 yards of each. I was picky in choosing the ones I got; good quality and stayed away from the marginal ones.

02-01-2011, 08:05 PM

#20

SherriB

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: Quilting somewhere......

Posts: 2,591

We are lucky to still have a decent fabric dept. at one of our Walmarts. They are finally getting in some new fabrics and I love them!! Really nice quality (feel) of the fabric and a nice variety of prints. This store doesn't a have a party dept, but the Walmart just a few miles away has a party dept. but no fabric dept.